This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
National reporting about or out of Utah doesn't always make us look so good. But here are three recent exceptions:
— Meet The Utah Columnist Shining A Light On Fossil Fuel Front Groups — Denise Robbins | Media Matters for America
"In recent decades, fossil fuel interests have been funding front groups to advance their ideological and political goals, and key to these groups' success is concealing their industry backing. But Utah columnist Paul Rolly has been working to shine a light on the industry backing behind the most influential front groups in his state. ...
" ... Why is it so important to Rolly to educate his readers about Big Oil's involvement in these fights? 'It's our job,' he said, explaining that it's vital that readers know 'what the sources of bills are, where they're coming from, who they benefit, who's behind them, who's making money, and who's making campaign contributions.' He hopes this information will give his readers the ability to 'make informed decisions when they vote.'..."
— Utah Is 2016's Strangest Swing State — Emma Green | The Atlantic
" ... How has this sparsely populated, deep-red Western state become the object of desire for a Democrat, the source of the humiliation of America's most confident man, and the potential site of Never Trump's last stand? In an election that has defied conventional wisdom, Utah has become a symbol of conventional American identity: religiously conservative, family-oriented, and equally committed to traditional American values and freedom for minority groups. ..."
And from last week:
— Utah tops the nation in attending arts events — Sean P. Means | The Salt Lake Tribune
"Utahns go to arts events — plays, concerts, dance performances, gallery exhibits and movies — more than people anywhere else in the nation, according to new data compiled by the National Endowment for the Arts. ..."
— The arts thrive in Utah — Salt Lake Tribune Editorial
"Too often, when Utah gets rated on one of those national lists, the results are not particularly encouraging.
"Yes, our elected officials like to brag about their good scores on public management and business-friendly environments. But Utah's ratings for more human and humane concerns — from school budgets to air quality — often suffer by comparison to, well, just about anywhere.
"But a new list put together by the folks at the National Endowment for the Arts puts Utah at the top for the percentage of adults who take advantage of our state's large, varied and thriving arts scene. That's wonderful news, for a whole symphony of reasons. ..."